(Alexander’s POV)I lay sideways on the bed, holding Leigh’s hand and playing at the diamond in her engagement ring she was wearing. Slowly, her eyes opened, and she smirked at me.“Are you planning some pranks on me, Alex?” she teased, raising her hand to look at her engagement ring. “You told me I can keep this. Was I too hard on Zyra yesterday?”I shook my head. “No,” I lowered my head, kissing her forehead. “How are you feeling now? I panicked last night,” he said, grinning.Leigh laughed. “Yeah, you even made my whole family panic, Alex.”“What can I do? You fainted and burning with fever,” I told her. I almost brought her to the hospital last night. “How can Mama be so calm about it?” I brushed her hair with my fingers, and she closed her eyes when I grazed my fingers on her face.“With seven children and twenty-four grandchildren, how can’t she be calm?” Leigh smiled. “I’m now okay, so don’t worry about me much, Alex,” she assured me.She had no fever this morning, but every ne
(Leigh’s POV)“Are you ready, sweetheart?” Seb asked me, peeking at me in my office.“Almost,” I answered, sending my emails to our suppliers. I glanced at him, smiling as I turned off my computer.Callie barked at Seb when he attempted to enter my office. He raised his hands in the air, looking at her.“Do you really have to bring that mutt to our dinner, sweetheart?” he asked, frowning at the puppy and definitely making me raise my eyebrows. Alfie came to my office. “This one’s not a mutt, Sebastian, but a spoiled baby here in the office. Come to papa, Callie!”Callie barked at Seb, and I wondered if she could smell that he was never a dog person. I sighed, wondering what to do with her if Alex and I divorced. She ran to Alfie.“You want me to babysit for Callie for a few hours?” he offered. “I’m not busy tonight. Plus, I like your apartment.” He grinned at me.I chuckled. “Are you sure?” I rose to my feet, approached Alfie, and pet Callie, scratching her head. “Would you like that
(Leigh’s POV)Distraction.It was all I needed to forget Alex, but heaven must have found my life entertaining that the file Elle gave me was the pictures from yesterday. I heaved a deep sigh, adding more patience to myself because Alfie and Elle were staring at me as if I was a piece of art in Italy. Even Callie was sitting beside me, wagging her tail.I propped my elbow on the computer table, clasping my hands and entwining my fingers as I lowered my head to look at her.“What do you want, Callie?” I asked, smiling sadly at her. She barked at me, coming to me closer and resting her head on my shoes as she lay down.“Mommy, I want to know what’s wrong?” Elle changed her voice, speaking for Callie.Alfie scoffed at Elle, shaking his head and perhaps telling her today wasn’t a good time for jokes.“What?” Elle raised her eyebrows. “You always do that when you talk to Callie.”“Come on, just ask me. You know that I hate you gawking at me like that when you have a gazillion questions.” I
(Leigh’s POV)I rolled to my bed, curling into a fetal position when I woke up, realizing I was alone again. I clutched the hem of the oversize shirt I was wearing. I couldn’t sleep last night, thinking of what Alex could be doing now. After the previous text message he sent, he did not send another. He did not even reply to my message.From the bedroom, I could hear Callie running around the living room. Reaching for my phone, I checked the time. It is still early for her morning walk, but I climb down from my bed to lie on the couch.I didn’t have to go to the office today, and after yesterday, Alfie has been doing all the lifting of heavy stuff in the office, not wanting Elle and me to do it anymore. I let my left arm hang on the couch, and Callie came to me, licking and play biting my hand.“Give mommy a little more time, baby. I feel lazy this morning,” I said listlessly, smiling as I played with her, petting her with my hand she was biting.I was just about to close my eyes agai
(Leigh’s POV)My day yesterday passed like a blur as I spent the day with Eloisa. As I left Callie in the pet salon for her grooming, I pampered my sister by bringing her to the salon. We also went shopping for clothes, and then we met Ellen and Kayla in the restaurant to have an early dinner.When the four of us were complete, Eloisa told us the good news she hadn’t shared with her husband yet. She’s two months pregnant, and she was happy to announce to us that only one heartbeat was heard in her ultrasound, not four.By the time we went home, Eloisa and I were tired that we both retired to bed early.While I replied to the emails and finished editing pictures, Eloisa made herself busy playing with Callie, cooking lunch for us, and calling her children when she was sure that Dave was at work already.When I went out of my bedroom, it was almost six, and I found Eloisa sitting on the couch, looking at the TV even though she was not watching anything.“Is the ending good?” I asked her.
(Leigh’s POV)Alex went on top of me, smiling as he nipped on my bottom lips, kissing me sensually and smiling naughtily as he buried his head on my neck.“I thought you were tired from your long flight, Alex,” I whispered, smiling and gasping as I felt his hand exploring my body again.“Hmm,” he mumbled, nibbling on my earlobe. “Yeah, I was, but God, I miss you. I could do this all night, Leigh. Are you tired?” I could feel his lips curving into a smile as he asked.I chuckled, closing my eyes and not exactly knowing what my body wanted at this moment. All I know is that I melt like snow in the springtime every time he kisses me. Every time our heart and soul become one, I forget about the pain. I feel loved. And I also want to be selfish and greedy, wanting Alex to be mine.He rolled to my side and held my hand, intertwining our fingers. “Let’s not divorce, Leigh,” he said, making my heart skip a beat.My eyes opened, and my head turned to him, wanting to know if he was teasing me,
(Leigh’s POV) In a small private room, we found Zyra sleeping after being brought to the hospital when Emma found her unconscious in her bedroom. She called her last night, crying after she and Alex argued. She overdosed on her sleeping pills, and if I was not mistaken, she took them after her argument with Alex last night. I was leaning on the wall, hiding beside the cabinet as Alex dashed to Zyra’s side, holding her hand and crying in silence. We had to ride a taxi going here as he was trembling with worry and fear after hearing the news. Seeing him confused about what to do, I decided we take the cab instead of him driving going to the hospital. I pressed my lips as I thought, what on earth was I doing here, but I was too worried and anxious for Zyra and scared for Alex. When I peeked at them again, I saw Zyra opening her eyes, and when she saw Alex, she got up and started crying. He wiped her tears as he sat on the edge of her bed, wrapping his arms around her body, hushing her
(Alexander’s POV)George stood in front of me, telling me about my schedule for the day, but I leaned on the backrest of my swivel chair, staring blankly at nothing and not hearing what she was saying. I could only listen to the buzz of the sound of her voice. It has been a week since Leigh and I parted ways in Chase’s office.After signing the divorce papers, she removed the wedding ring off her finger and left the office without talking to me. I breathed out as my eyes lowered, looking at the wedding band on my palm. I leaned forward, propping my elbows on the table as I touched my chin while I raised the ring, looking and thinking of what to do with it.“Oh, Kayleigh called -” George pressed her lips together when my eyes flickered on her. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, looking disappointed at me. “Finally! Mr. Hearst, I got your attention,” She sat on the chair in front of my table.George studied my face, twitching her lips as she heaved a deep sigh.“I’m sorry, Boss,
(Alexander’s POV) “You may kiss your wife,” the officiant said, but my lips molded Leigh’s lips before he could finish his line. Leigh and I laughed as we watched Alfie’s video that he had sent us. I saw myself as tears rolled down my cheeks as I claimed her mouth, tasting the sweetness of my wife’s lips and feeling the overflowing happiness that we had finally renewed our vows. We were seated on the couch, facing the king-sized bed where the twins slept soundly. “Renewal of vows,” Leigh whispered as she leaned her head on my shoulder. “When I saw you and Chase talking this morning -” I cut him. “He was telling me the big problem I’d face if I continued my plan of marrying Zyra.” Her almond-shaped eyes gaped at me, looking at me with wonder. “Why didn’t you sign the divorce papers, Alex?” I planted a kiss on her hair. “Because I always hoped we will have our chance, Leigh.” “Me, too,” She smiled, but her eyes squinted and asked me, “When they said that the groom was missing, I
(Leigh’s POV)The groom is missing.How dare Alex ruins his multi-million-dollar wedding? I was puffing out air, thinking about what came to his crazy mind running away on this special day.When Ellen and Kayla came to my room, they were quiet. They seemed to have known the problem, but they chose not to talk. Kayla placed little Alexander in his stroller while Ellen approached me, taking baby Amanda from me.Elle opened the door and helped me fix the skirt of my wedding gown.“An update, Elle?” I asked her.“Alfie’s fixing the problem,” she said, glancing at my sisters, who padded out of the room. She laughs nervously when she notices I am worrying and don’t know what to pick first. “Focus, Leigh. This is your wedding. You’re not the one who loses the groom, so give that beautiful smile and have a blast,” she said, picking up my bouquet and giving it to me.“I just saw him a while ago -” My voice trailed off, realizing it was nonsense to talk about him now. “And why are you here? You
(Leigh’s POV)So much for my plan of beauty rest!I hardly had a wink last night because baby Amanda was crying almost all night that I wanted to rush her to the hospital, but whenever I danced her in my arms, she would stop crying and go to sleep. George brought Maxine yesterday to our house, and since she couldn’t come to our bedroom, she has been howling and crying until midnight. Only when Kayla got Callie out of my room that she stops whimpering.“What happened to you?” Elle blinked, looking at me as she entered my room.I climbed down from the bed lazily, went to my dresser, and saw my hair worse than a haystack. I groaned, looking at my eyes.She rolled her eyes, tugging me back to the bed.“What time are we leaving?” I asked, lying again on the bed. I need sleep—more of it.She chuckled. “We’re actually leaving. Just sleep in the car,” she suggested. “You need to have your hair done, makeup, and everything.”I groaned, going under the covers of my blanket. “Why is it that it d
(Leigh’s POV)“For you… For you, I will…” I breathed out, clutching my shirt, wondering why I couldn’t memorize my wedding vow.I inhaled… and then exhaled, looking at the perfect blue sky. It was a miracle that the weather today cooperated with us. Since Alex left that night, the sky has been crying with me, and though my family and friends saw me smiling, my heart was aching from the deep wound of the hard decision we had made.As long as we are together, every step or decision we make will be a mistake.“The flowers are soooo beautiful, Leigh,” Alfie uttered, admiringly looking at the different flowers, from roses of different colors to other flowers that we hardly recognize unless they would tell us what they were.I smirked at him. “When you get married, and the budget is sky is the limit, this is the result.”“But the couples would go to hell after,” he sighed.“Don’t say that,” I said, looking at the large and open meadow.It was last week when Mr. Hearst, the older Mr. Hearst,
(Alexander’s POV)After dinner, George went to Aunt Ida’s house, her temporary place to stay while we were here. Even if I don’t ask her, I know how she likes staying here because of the homey feeling we are experiencing.I heaved a deep sigh as I looked at the dark sky, trying to gather my senses together, thinking of what happened today and what I would do after this. For a honeymoon idea, I knew how much Leigh wanted to go back to the farm. We could spend our time there as one family, and when the twins are one or two, maybe we could all travel together.“Beer?” Royce asked, giving me a bottle of beer.I smiled, taking the bottle.“Reconsidering?” He sat on the wooden bench, gazing at the sky.“About Leigh or the twins?” I smirked, causing him to chuckle.He drank his beer, giving me a silent answer to tell him my plans for them.“As much as I hated Leigh for lying to me, I still love her, Royce,” It was easier to be honest to him than tell Leigh my feelings. She is one complicated
(Leigh’s POV)Was it the warm sprinkle from the shower? Perhaps Zyra’s fingernails have poison causing me to feel like this.Before he stepped into the shower area, my body was burning with desire, and there was a need inside me that wanted him to touch me… and kiss me.“Leigh,” His voice trailed off because as soon as he was in front of me, my hands grabbed his head, curling my fingers to his hair, never wanting to let him go. My heels have their own mind, raising my body to reach his soft lips, making my tongue do its work, exploring his mouth, taunting him into an adventure that I didn’t care if we would regret in the end.I must have turned on something in him, too. He pinned me to the wall, and his hands excitedly touched every part of me, feverishly arousing my heart, body, and soul. We were on fire, kissing intensely, touching passionately, caressing our bodies like we have hungry for a long time.He brought me into a new world when he thrust his manhood to my core, rocking and
(Leigh’s POV)Before I went to the kitchen to drink water, I brought the three babies to the porch and continued working there. Being a single mother, I had to work, but I mostly handled special editing projects, so I could still work from home. I asked Dyna to watch them for a while as I went inside, but as soon as I returned to the porch, she left in a hurry to go to her bakeshop. If only I could pull the days to our wedding day so that this would be over. Yet I also wished to stop the time, hoping that Alex would not get my children from me. I was in the middle of editing a picture when a familiar car stopped in front of our house.I rose to my feet, walking in the direction of the white vehicle because I was not sure at first who could our unexpected visitor be, but when the passenger door at the back of the car opened, I was surprised to see Zyra.She dashed to me, looking furious as she approached me. “You bitch!” She screamed angrily as she pulled my hair toward her.I could n
(Alexander’s POV)With a crib in Kayleigh’s bedroom, it was impossible to add another bed, and despite everyone’s disapproval of letting me stay in her bedroom, they didn’t have the choice when Carlito spoke up, explaining the reason why. I received sullen looks, especially from her brothers, but no one shared their disagreement.I have been staring at her ceiling for an hour now, listening to her even breathing. I felt guilty for taking our children on the day of her birthday, but I didn’t know, and I was already consumed by much anger that I didn’t think much.When I heard baby Amanda cry, I closed my eyes immediately when I felt Leigh move. She got up, still yawning, when she climbed down from the bed, taking our daughter from the crib. She sat on the chair next to the bed and pulled off her sleepwear to expose her breast to her. When I heard her even breathing as she breastfed our baby, I opened my eyes to check on them, watching her look like she was sleeping.As my little girl w
(Alexander’s POV)Kayla and Eloisa came into the room with little Alexander and baby Amanda. When the twins cried, it was like something snapped inside Leigh’s mind, making her blink. She scrambled to her feet, ignoring me in front of her and seeing only her two children.“Alex…” She cried.Eloisa, her eyes puffy from crying, nodded. “Yes. Alex came back and returned them.”“Are they hungry? Is Alex…” Leigh said, pressing her breasts and shaking her head. “Never mind.”“You have to eat and clean up first, Leigh,” Kayla told her.“Of course,” she said, pacing around the room, not knowing what to do first. “Is Alex -”She stopped again, perhaps she still didn’t know how to ask it, but couldn’t she see me? Kayla placed Amanda in the crib and approached her sister, putting her hands on her shoulder and holding her in place.“Alex is fine. He’s very much okay. You don’t have to worry about him. Listen to me, Kayleigh, gather yourself together because the twins are hungry. Eloisa will help